Health Library

Medical Conditions and Pregnancy

Medical conditions that may affect pregnancy

Certain medical conditions may complicate a pregnancy. However, with proper medical care, most women can enjoy a healthy pregnancy,
despite their medical challenges.

Diabetes before pregnancy

Diabetes is a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin or the body is unable to use the insulin that is produced.
Insulin is the hormone that allows glucose to enter the cells of the body to provide fuel. When glucose cannot enter the cells,
it builds up in the blood and the body's cells literally starve to death. Diabetes in pregnancy can have serious consequences
for the mother and the growing fetus. The severity of problems often depends on the severity of the mother's diabetic disease,
especially if she has vascular (blood vessel) complications and poor blood glucose control.

Diabetes that occurs in pregnancy is described as:

Gestational diabetes--when a mother who does not have diabetes develops a resistance to insulin because of the hormones of
pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes may be noninsulin dependent or insulin dependent.

Pregestational diabetes--women who already have diabetes and become pregnant.

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which the glucose level is elevated and other diabetic symptoms appear during pregnancy
in a woman who has not previously been diagnosed with diabetes. In most cases, all diabetic symptoms disappear following delivery.
However, women with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing diabetes later in life, especially if they were
overweight before pregnancy.

Unlike other types diabetes, gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by other hormones that block on
the insulin that is produced, a condition referred to as insulin resistance.

What causes gestational diabetes?

Although the cause of gestational diabetes is not known, there are some theories as to why it occurs.

The placenta supplies a growing fetus with nutrients and water. It also produces a variety of hormones to maintain the pregnancy.
Some of these hormones (estrogen, cortisol, and human placental lactogen) can have a blocking effect on insulin, which usually
begins about 20 to 24 weeks into the pregnancy.

As the placenta grows, more of these hormones are produced, and insulin resistance becomes greater. Normally, the pancreas
is able to make additional insulin to overcome insulin resistance, but when the production of insulin is not enough to overcome
the effect of the placental hormones, gestational diabetes results.

What are the risk factors associated with gestational diabetes?

Although any woman may develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, some of the factors that may increase risk are:

Family history of diabetes

Obesity

Having given birth previously to a very large infant, a stillbirth, or a child with a birth defect

Age (women who are older than 25 are at greater risk than younger women)

Although increased glucose in the urine is often included in the list of risk factors, it is not believed to be a reliable
indicator for gestational diabetes.

How is gestational diabetes diagnosed?

A glucose screening test is usually done between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. This test involves drinking a special glucose
drink followed by measurement of the blood sugar level one hour later.

If this test shows an increased blood sugar level, a three-hour glucose tolerance test may be done after a few days of following
a special diet. If results of the second test are in the abnormal range, gestational diabetes is diagnosed.

Treatment for gestational diabetes

Specific treatment for gestational diabetes will be determined by your physician or midwife based on:

Possible gestational diabetes complications for the baby

Unlike other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes generally does not cause birth defects. Birth defects usually originate
sometime during the first trimester of pregnancy. They are more likely in women with pregestational diabetes, who may have
changes in blood glucose during that time. Women with gestational diabetes generally have normal blood sugar levels during
the critical first trimester.

The complications of gestational diabetes are usually manageable and preventable. The key to prevention is careful control
of blood sugar levels just as soon as the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made.

Infants of mothers with gestational diabetes are vulnerable to several chemical imbalances, such as low serum calcium and
low serum magnesium levels, but, in general, the major problems of gestational diabetes include the following:

MacrosomiaMacrosomia refers to a baby that is considerably larger than normal. All of the nutrients the fetus receives come directly
from the mother's blood. If the maternal blood has too much glucose, the pancreas of the fetus senses the high glucose levels
and produces more insulin in an attempt to use this glucose. The fetus converts the extra glucose to fat. Even when the mother
has gestational diabetes, the fetus is able to produce all the insulin it needs. The combination of high blood glucose levels
from the mother and high insulin levels in the fetus results in large deposits of fat which causes the fetus to grow excessively
large.

Birth injuryBirth injury may occur due to the baby's large size and difficulty being born.

HypoglycemiaHypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar in the baby immediately after delivery. This problem occurs if the mother's blood sugar
levels have been consistently high, causing the fetus to have a high level of insulin in its circulation. After delivery,
the baby continues to have a high insulin level, but it no longer has the high level of sugar from its mother, resulting in
the newborn's blood sugar level becoming very low. The baby's blood sugar level is checked after birth, and if the level is
too low, it may be necessary to give the baby glucose intravenously (IV or into a vein).

Respiratory distress (difficulty breathing)Too much insulin or too much glucose in a baby's system may delay lung maturation and cause respiratory difficulties in babies.
This is more likely if they are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

High blood pressure and pregnancy

High blood pressure can occur in pregnancy in two forms. It may be a preexisting condition, called chronic hypertension, or
it can develop during pregnancy--a condition known as gestational hypertension. It is also called toxemia or preeclampsia
and occurs most often in young women with a first pregnancy. It is more common in twin pregnancies, and in women who had blood
pressure problems in a previous pregnancy.

High blood pressure can lead to placental complications and slowed fetal growth. If untreated, severe hypertension may cause
dangerous seizures and even death in the mother and fetus.

Women with preeclampsia may need bedrest. Moderate or severe preeclampsia or eclampsia (preeclampsia complicated by seizures)
usually require hospitalization and medications.

Women who have high blood pressure before pregnancy often need to continue taking their antihypertensive medication. Your
physician may switch you to a safer antihypertensive medication during pregnancy.

Kidney function tests and ultrasounds are often performed more frequently on pregnant women with high blood pressure to monitor
the mother's health and fetal growth and development.

Infectious diseases and pregnancy

Infections during pregnancy can pose a threat to the fetus. Even a simple urinary tract infection, which is common during
pregnancy, should be treated immediately. An infection that goes untreated can lead to preterm labor and rupture of the membranes
surrounding the fetus. Some infectious diseases include:

ToxoplasmosisToxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a single-celled parasite named Toxoplasma gondii. Although many people may have toxoplasma infection, very few have symptoms because the immune system usually keeps the parasite
from causing illness. Babies who became infected before birth can be born with serious mental or physical problems. Toxoplasmosis
often causes flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph glands, or muscle aches and pains that last for a few days to several weeks.
Mothers can be tested to see if they have developed an antibody to the illness. Fetal testing may include ultrasound, and/or
testing of amniotic fluid or cord blood. Treatment may include antibiotics. The following measures can help prevent toxoplasmosis
infection:

Wear gloves when you garden or do anything outdoors that involves handling soil. Cats, who may pass the parasite in their
feces, often use gardens and sandboxes as litter boxes. Wash your hands well with soap and warm water after outdoor activities,
especially before you eat or prepare any food.

Have someone who is healthy and not pregnant change your cat's litter box. If this is not possible, wear gloves and clean
the litter box daily (the parasite found in cat feces can only infect you a few days after being passed). Wash your hands
well with soap and warm water afterward.

Have someone who is healthy and not pregnant handle raw meat for you. If this is not possible, wear clean, latex gloves when
you touch raw meat and wash any cutting boards, sinks, knives, and other utensils that might have touched the raw meat. Wash
your hands well with soap and warm water afterward.

Cook all meat thoroughly, that is, until it is no longer pink in the center or until the juices run clear. Do not sample meat
before it is fully cooked.

Food poisoningA pregnant woman should avoid eating undercooked or raw foods because of the risk of food poisoning. Food poisoning can dehydrate
a mother and deprive the fetus of nourishment. In addition, food poisoning can cause meningitis and pneumonia in a fetus,
resulting in possible death. Tips for preventing food poisoning include:

Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources, such as beef, pork, or poultry.

Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.

Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods.

Avoid raw (unpasteurized) milk or foods made from raw milk.

Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Chlamydia--infections such as chlamydia may be associated with premature labor and rupture of the membranes.

Hepatitis--an inflammation of the liver, resulting in liver cell damage and destruction. Five main types of the hepatitis
virus have been identified. The most common type that occurs in pregnancy is hepatitis B (HBV). This type of hepatitis spreads
mainly through contaminated blood and blood products, sexual contact, and contaminated intravenous needles. Although HBV resolves
in most people, about 10 percent will have chronic HBV. Hepatitis B virus can lead to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver
cancer, liver failure, and death. Infected pregnant women can transmit the virus to the fetus during pregnancy and at delivery.

The later in pregnancy a mother contracts the virus, the greater the chance for infection in her baby. Signs and symptoms
of HBV include jaundice (yellowing of skin, eyes, and mucous membranes), fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent
nausea, and vomiting. A blood test for hepatitis B is part of routine prenatal testing. HBV positive mothers may receive a
drug called hepatitis B immune globulin. Infants of HBV positive mothers should receive hepatitis B immune globulin and the
hepatitis B vaccine in the first 12 hours of birth. Babies of mothers with unknown HBV status should receive the hepatitis
B vaccine in the first 12 hours of birth. Babies of mothers with negative HBV status should be vaccinated before hospital
discharge. Premature infants weighing less than 2,000 grams (4.5 pounds) born to mothers with negative HBV should have their
first vaccine dose delayed until one month after birth or hospital discharge. It is recommended that all babies complete the
hepatitis B vaccine series to be fully protected against hepatitis B infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)--a woman with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has a one in four chance of infecting
her fetus. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which kills or
impairs cells of the immune system and progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers.
The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of an HIV infection. HIV is spread most commonly by sexual contact with
an infected partner.

HIV may also be spread through contact with infected blood, especially by sharing needles, syringes, or drug use equipment
with someone who is infected with the virus. According to the National Institutes of Health, HIV transmission from mother
to child during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, or by breastfeeding has accounted for nearly all AIDS cases reported among
US children.

Some people may develop a flu-like illness within a month or two after exposure to the HIV virus, although many people do
not develop any symptoms at all when they first become infected. Persistent or severe symptoms may not surface for 10 years
or more, after HIV first enters the body in adults, or within two years in children born with an HIV infection.

The Institute of Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Pediatrics and
other health organizations recommend HIV testing of all pregnant women. Prenatal care that includes HIV counseling, testing,
and treatment for infected mothers and their children saves lives and resources. Current recommendations are for HIV positive
women to take a number of drugs during pregnancy and during labor. Blood tests are also performed to check the amount of virus.
Newborn babies of HIV positive mothers may also receive medication. Studies have found that giving a mother antiretroviral
medications during pregnancy, labor, and delivery can reduce the chance of a mother's transmission of HIV to the baby from
25 percent to less than 2 percent. Since the CDC began recommending routine HIV screening for all pregnant women in 1995,
the estimated incidence of mother-to-child transmission has dropped by approximately 85 percent. Cesarean delivery is often recommended
for HIV positive women with high viral loads. Because breast milk contains the virus, HIV positive women should not breastfeed
their babies. Studies show that breastfeeding increases the risk of HIV transmission.

Herpes--genital herpes can be spread to the baby during delivery, if a woman has an active infection at that time. Herpes
is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Herpes infections can cause blisters and ulcers
on the mouth or face (oral herpes), or in the genital area (genital herpes). HSV is a life-long infection. Symptoms of HSV
may include painful blisters or open sores in the genital area, which may be preceded by a tingling or burning sensation in
the legs, buttocks, or genital region. The herpes sores usually disappear within a few weeks, but the virus remains in the
body and the lesions may recur from time to time.

It is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy, because a first episode during pregnancy creates a greater
risk of transmission to the newborn. Women may be treated with an antiviral medication if the disease is severe. Genital herpes
can cause potentially fatal infections in babies if the mother has active genital herpes (shedding the virus) at the time
of delivery. Cesarean delivery is usually recommended for active genital herpes. Fortunately, infection of an infant is rare
among women with genital herpes infection.

Protection from genital herpes includes abstaining from sex when symptoms are present, and using latex condoms between outbreaks.